Career Pathways Seminars

Building Blocks for Career Advancement

www.amavic.com.au

© AMA Victoria 2008

Open Doors with your Open Doors with your CV & Cover LetterCV & Cover Letter

ObjectivesObjectives

Cover Letter & CV

Interviews

◦ Pre-Employment Screening: National Assessment Authority

◦ Prepare you & increase your comfort level

◦ What Not to Do!

The Application ProcessThe Application Process

There are a number of entry points depending on how you are entering the process

Start the Oversees Trained Doctors (OTD) registration and appropriate process prior to applying for jobs

Get your application in on time

Address the required application process

Address the selection criteria

World of RWAV OTD ApplicationsWorld of RWAV OTD Applications

RWAV (Rural Workforce Agency of Victoria) administer Area of Need OTDApplications and receive approximately:

400 applications per year

with 30 applications progressing to placement

What do they look for?What do they look for?

This scheme aims to attract OTDs with post graduate GP qualifications or recognised GP experience (of at least five years) to work in areas of greatest need in rural Victoria.

You must be eligible for registration in the state of Victoria

Cover Letters & CV’sCover Letters & CV’s

How important are cover letters and CV’s?

VERY IMPORTANT!

Providing an investment in your future opportunities within Australia

Having a fundamental effect on placements and/or positions offered

Cover LettersCover Letters

More than just a ‘cover’ letter

The first impression you make

Your chance to ensure your application doesn’t go to the bottom of that pile

Cover Letter – What should it do?Cover Letter – What should it do?

Address the job you are applying for in the subject line

Address the name of the person

Be accurately and carefully constructed

Pay attention to detail (especially spelling and grammar)

Care & Attention Required

Cover Letter - Your OpportunityCover Letter - Your Opportunity

To stand out from crowd

To attract the readers attention & keep them reading!

To let the reader know you have made an effort to understand their organisation

To get you to the next stage in the process – your CV!

Don’t mix up your agencies (PMCV/AMC/RWAV), hospitals & health services

Don’t ramble, be structured and NOT TOO LONG Don’t restate information that appears in your CV Don’t use complicated fonts Don’t send it with spelling errors Don’t send it with mistakes in health service name or what

that health service does Don’t make generalised statements that could apply to all

health services/hospitals. Tailor to your audience.

Cover Letter – What Not to Do!Cover Letter – What Not to Do!

Cover Letter - StructureCover Letter - Structure

Clear

Informative

Concise

Keep it to one page

Cover Letter - ContentCover Letter - Content

Outline the type of position you are seeking?

What is your motivation for seeking a career in Australia?

What particular skills & attributes you would bring?

What distinguishes you from other potential applicants?

Outline your long-term professional goals & plans

Lack of Care & Attention…what are Lack of Care & Attention…what are the Consequences?the Consequences?

You go to bottom of a very big pile!

What does it say about you? Will you lack care & attention at work Will you lack care & attention to patients Does the Australian Health system want doctors who

don’t pay care & attention?

How will you be perceived?

Your CV - An Important InvestmentYour CV - An Important Investment

Opportunity to sell yourself Your skills & qualities Your academic & clinical achievements Special achievements Community/voluntary activities

Project a well rounded, mature person, able to handle a career in medicine within Australia

Set yourself apart from the crowd Create a good impression prior to interview

CV - StructureCV - Structure

2 – 3 pages in total Photo (not always essential but again makes an

impression) Name & contact details Chronological order

Employment Education (certified copies provided on request) Specific requirements for Australia (certified copy of ELTs) Conferences Presentations

Referees

CV – Lay OutCV – Lay Out

Consistent font throughout

Consistent use of: Headings Bullets Page Margins

CV – Do include:CV – Do include:

Research activities Other life pursuits Volunteer & Community works Significant achievements

BUT DON’T OVER DO IT!

Academic/professional snapshot

Personal snapshot◦Show how well rounded you are◦An provides an indication of your ability to make

the transition

This may be what distinguishes you from the rest

CV – A snapshot of Who You AreCV – A snapshot of Who You Are

CV – Gaps in TrainingCV – Gaps in Training

If there are gaps in the chronological order, provide reasons

Travel

Health

Other Studies

Family commitments

CV – Check itCV – Check it

Check spelling get someone to proof read it, critique it

Read it aloud

Pay care & attention to the detail

Don’t miss the little words ‘to’ and ‘of’

Review how it appears online as well as on paper

RefereesReferees

Check individual agency requirements

Contact your nominated referees prior to including their details

Ensure chosen referees can answer all the questions on any potential assessment form

If an online notification system, check your referees received this.

RefereesReferees Clinical◦Ensure correct status/ title and contact details of

referee

◦Ensure referee can answer ALL the questions on any referee assessment form

Non – Clinical◦A character reference

◦Evidence that you are ready to make the transition

CV – What Not to Do!CV – What Not to Do!

Don’t send with errors in spelling & grammar

Don’t go crazy with fancy fonts or colours

Don’t use a wacky email address sexypixie666@....

Don’t send copies of all your qualifications / documents with your CV (except ELTs). You will be asked for these at a later stage.

When listing your experiences

Include type of hospital/ position and details of rotation eg: General Medical Rotation

Don’t list the obvious:

Exception – extra special placements & electives

CV –What Not to Do!CV –What Not to Do!

Interviews – The FactsInterviews – The Facts

Yes, they can be awkward

All employees go through them

Your will almost certainly by interviewed by a person with a human resource background, if not they have a lot of experience (Remember RWAV = 150/year).

Preparation will make all the difference

Interviews – Self AwarenessInterviews – Self Awareness

Body language

Remember to smile

Eye contact

Sit forward in your chair

Interviews - PreparationInterviews - Preparation What career opportunities are you exploring & why?

Clearly articulate your career goals

Articulate why you want to work in a particular role/health service

Be specific Visit websites to research opportunities available through the

particular agency and demonstrate understanding of the required processes

Speak to other IMGs in roles similar to those you are seeking (Australian Overseas Trained Doctors Association)

Behavioural InterviewsBehavioural Interviews

What are they?

Asking applicants to give specific examples of when they have demonstrated particular behaviour or skills

Behavioural InterviewsBehavioural Interviews

Why?

Past behaviour is the best predictor of future behaviour

Behaviour tends to be linked with competencies

Behavioural InterviewBehavioural Interview

Example Questions◦ Tell me about a time when you....◦ Describe a circumstance when you were faced with a problem

related to....◦ Think about an instance in which you....

Probing questions◦ How exactly did you do that?◦ Tell me exactly what steps you took to resolve that◦ What was the basis for that decision

Behavioural InterviewsBehavioural Interviews

A strong answer outlines:

◦The context in which events took place

◦The action taken in the situation

◦The result or outcome of these actions

◦Review of the situation and what you may do differently if faced with a similar experience again

How to PrepareHow to Prepare

Remind yourself of a range of experiences you can talk about

Make sure you don’t refer to the same experience in order to answer all questions

Draw on your work & life experiences Part time, voluntary, professional University, academic & extra-curricular involvement Other life experiences where you have developed the sought after skills

and experiences required

Review your CV to answer questions specific to those experiences listed

Interviews - PunctualityInterviews - Punctuality

Know where to go

Allow for traffic

Allow for parking – health services and other agencies are notoriously hard to park around

Ring ◦Keep the contact number with you at all times◦ If you are going to be late, give ETA, even if by minutes◦Provide an explanation

Interviews - PresentationInterviews - Presentation

Make an effort in your appearance Always were a suit Well groomed Ironed shirt

If you turn up scruffy & dirty what impression are you giving

Interview TipsInterview Tips

Why are you seeking to pursue a career in medicine in Australia?

Don’t generalise Be specific

Understand this is the most appropriate pathway for you Access to a particular field of medicine eg Specialist Pathway

Show you have really thought about why you want to be here!

What to Do?What to Do?

Stay calm

Be professional

Show that you are ready to take the next step towards a Career in medicine within Australia

Take certified copies of key documents with you.

Interviews – What Not to DoInterviews – What Not to Do Don’t be late

Don’t generalise

Don’t try to bluff your way through answers – if you don’t know just say so

Don’t name drop

Don’t try too hard to IMPRESS

Don’t leave your mobile telephone on and if you do… Don’t answer it!

Enjoy the JourneyEnjoy the Journey

SummarySummary

Care & Attention

Investment

Research

You have come this far and your future deserves your best efforts

Thank youThank you